Hydrangea plant named &#39;dolgip&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hydrangea  cultivar named ‘DOLGIP’ is disclosed, characterized by a very well branched, densely growing, floriferous plant. Flower longevity on the plant is very good, and over plant vigor moderate. The new variety is a  Hydrangea , normally produced as an ornamental plant for containers or gardens.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Hydrangea hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DOLGIP’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar was discovered as a result of a planned breedingprogram directed by the inventor, Marie-France Doll a citizen of France.Seed was bulk collected in 2000 from unpatented, unnamed plants ofHydrangea serrata and Hydrangea macrophylla and subsequently planted.Due to the bulk seed collection, exact parents are unknown. The newvariety was discovered as a seedling in 2003, by the inventor in a noncommercial outdoor production area in La Foret Fouesnant, France.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DOLGIP’ by vegetative cuttingswas first performed in 2003, at a research nursery in Angers, France.Multiple generations have since been produced and have shown that theunique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to typein successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DOLGIP’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DOLGIP’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DOLGIP’ as a new and distinct Hydrangeacultivar:

1. Very well branched plant.

2. Densely growing plant habit.

3. Floriferous habit.

4. Long flower longevity on the plant.

5. Moderate vigor.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘DOLGIP’ can be compared to the commercial variety Hydrangea macrophylla‘Klaveren’ unpatented. The two varieties are similar in manyhorticultural characteristics, including having a similar flower color.However, plants of ‘DOLGIP’ are denser, with more branches, and producemore flowers per plant. Additionally, ‘DOLGIP’ has darker foliage.

The new variety can also be compared to the commercial variety Hydrangeamacrophylla, ‘Love You Kiss’, unpatented. Hydrangea ‘DOLGIP’ andHydrangea ‘Love You Kiss’ are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of ‘DOLGIP’ are more vigorous, andproduce more sterile flowers and branches per plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DOLGIP” grown in a outdoors, in Angers, France, in acommercial 3 liter container. Age of the plant photographed isapproximately 2 years. The photograph was taken using conventionaltechniques and although colors may appear different from actual colorsdue to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventionalphotographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DOLGIP’ plants grown outdoors, in Angers,France. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 10° C. to 35°C. daytime and 5° to 15° C. at night. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types. Measurements were takenduring the Fall.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea hybrid ‘DOLGIP.’-   Propagation:    -   -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 3 weeks at            approximately 20 ° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.        -   Propagation method.—Vegetative cuttings.-   Plant:    -   -   Age of plant described.—24 months.        -   Growth habit.—Flowering perennial shrub. Round, well            branched.        -   Height.—Approximately 80 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 80 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Branching characteristics.—very good free branching.        -   Length of lateral branches.—Approximately 30 cm.        -   Number of lateral branches.—Approximately 40.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Lateral branch shape.—Round.        -   Lateral branch strength.—moderate.        -   Lateral branch color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B tinged with            Greyed-Orange 174A.        -   Other stem or plant characteristics.—Stems densely covered            with lenticels. Lenticel length: Approximately 0.05 to            0.1 cm. Lenticel width: Approximately 0.05 cm. Lenticel            color: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 174A.        -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—Approximately 12.        -   Age of plant described.—24 months Approximately.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite. Compound or single: Single            Average Length: Approximately 11 cm. Average Width:            Approximately 7 to 8 cm. Shape of blade: Ovate. Apex: Acute            Base: Asymmetric Attachment: petiole attached to leaf            lamina. Margin: Serrate, approximately 2 teeth per cm.            Texture and appearance of top surface: Moderately glossy,            non-pubescent. Texture and appearance of bottom surface:            Matte, non-pubescent. Leaf internode length: Approximately 4            to 5 cm. Color: Young foliage upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144B Young foliage under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 146C Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 147A R.H.S. tinged with Greyed-Orange 166A            Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 148B            Venation: Type: arcuate Venation color upper side: Central            vein near RHS Yellow-Green 154A. Lateral veins 145D and            145C, both colors present individually. Venation color under            side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145D and 145C, both colors            present individually. Durability of foliage to stresses:            Good resistance to physical stress.        -   Petiole.—Average Length: Approximately 1.5 cm Diameter:            Approximately 0.3 cm . Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C,            slightly tinged at the nodes with Greyed-Orange 174A.-   Flower:    -   -   Bloom period.—Natural Season: Continuous June through            August.        -   Inflorescence.—Arrangement: Single, sterile and fertile            flowers arranged in terminal lacecap type panicles. Quantity            of flowers per inflorescence: Fertile flowers, 200            approximately. Sterile Flowers, 15 to 20 approximately.            Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent. Fragrance: No.        -   Sterile flower.—Diameter of entire flower: Approximately            4 cm. Depth of flower: Approximately 1 cm.        -   Petals.—Length of petal: Approximately 2 cm. Width of petal:            Approximately 1 cm. Apex: Obtuse Shape of petal: Orbicular.            Petal margin: Entire. Petal Arrangement: Rotate,            overlapping. Petal Number: 4 to 5. Petals Fused: No. Petal            Texture: Smooth. Color: Upper surface at first opening: Near            RHS Red-Purple 63C Upper surface at maturity: Near RHS            Red-Purple 63D Upper surface at fading: Near RHS Red-Purple            65D Under surface at first opening: Near RHS Red-Purple 63D            Under surface at maturity: Near RHS Red-Purple 63D Under            surface at fading: Near RHS Red-Purple 65D No Petaloids            present.-   Other characteristics:-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Semi-hardy perennial, tolerant    of some high temperatures. Upper limit of temperature tolerance has    not been observed, however, known to tolerate temperatures of at    least up to 40° C. Lower limits have also not been observed,    however, observed hardy to −15° C. No drought tolerance has been    observed.-   Fruit/seed production: No fruits/seeds detected to date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘DOLGIP’ as herein illustrated and described. 